Does the Availability of Seating for Healthcare Partners Improve the Patient’s Perception of Effective Listening and Create an Environment for Patient-Centered Care?

As the patient experience movement continues to expand, organization senior leadership must commit to the patient experience and frame it as part of the strategic imperative. To develop strategies to enhance the experience and create an environment conducive to the experience at the point of care, Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center conducted a study designed to compare HCAHPS scores on two nursing units with similar patient populations before and after folding chairs were placed in each patient room. The folding chairs were used specifically by staff and physicians when engaging the patient in communication. The results of this study reinforce the importance of sitting at the bedside to enhance patient and family communication, thus creating a more positive patient experience.